What USDA zone is Vancouver, WA?

The zone on this page is 8b, from ZIP 98661 in the 2023 PRISM table of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. That ZIP is 1.4 miles from the city point. USDA defines the zone as the average annual extreme minimum, shown here as 15°F to 20°F. It is a winter-cold band, not a frost date and not a forecast.

How far away is the weather station?

The station named on this page is 3.1 miles from the city point in a straight line. Frost dates are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for that instrument. They are not a National Weather Service forecast for one night, and they are not the temperature in every yard. The page names the station so the miles stay attached to the dates.

Frost dates in Vancouver, WA

Direct answer. In Vancouver, WA, the nearest qualified NOAA station is VANCOUVER PEARSON AP, WA US (USW00094298), 3.1 miles from the city point. The median last 32°F date is March 29, and the median first 32°F date is November 9, from the 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals. The 2023 USDA zone is 8b (15°F to 20°F), from ZIP 98661 in the PRISM table, 1.4 miles from the same city point.

Population in the Census 2024 estimate is 198,992. The station is VANCOUVER PEARSON AP, WA US (USW00094298).

Zone 8bUSDA average annual extreme minimum 15°F to 20°F, from ZIP 98661 (1.4 miles from the city point used on this page).

Median last 32°F is March 29. Median first 32°F is November 9. The 50% growing-season length is 223 days. The green band runs from the median last frost to the median first frost. Thin ticks mark the 10%, 50%, and 90% dates.

Outside the median season Growing seasonTicks: 10%, 50%, and 90%

Last 32°F in spring

NCEI’s probability is the chance the last spring minimum of 32°F or lower occurs on or after the date.

Probability	Date	How to read it
90%	March 6	Earlier date. A last 32°F on or after this day is common.
50%	March 29	Median.
10%	April 18	Later date. A last 32°F on or after this day is uncommon.

First 32°F in fall

NCEI’s probability is the chance the first autumn minimum of 32°F or lower occurs on or before the date.

Probability	Date	How to read it
10%	October 22	Earlier date. A first 32°F on or before this day is uncommon.
50%	November 9	Median.
90%	November 30	Later date. A first 32°F on or before this day is common.

32°F growing-season length

Days between the last spring 32°F and the first autumn 32°F. The figure is a length the season meets or exceeds at that probability, from NCEI, not a subtraction done on this site.

Probability the season is at least this long	Days
10%	252
50%	223
90%	196

28°F threshold

	10%	50%	90%
Last, on or after	March 27	March 3	February 4
First, on or before	November 3	November 26	December 22
Season at least	300 days	264 days	234 days

36°F threshold

	10%	50%	90%
Last, on or after	May 10	April 24	April 3
First, on or before	October 7	October 24	November 12
Season at least	209 days	183 days	159 days

Station VANCOUVER PEARSON AP, WA US (USW00094298). Completeness flag R, 22 years used for the 32°F dates. NCEI’s annual probability of at least one day at or below 32°F is 100%. Freeze dates are conditional on that threshold occurring. Elevation 9.1 m. The same probability language applies to the 28°F and 36°F rows when those dates passed the same quality checks.

Questions

When is the last spring frost in Vancouver, WA?: The median last 32°F date at the station on this page is March 29. NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals give a 50% chance the last spring minimum of 32°F or lower occurs on or after that date. The 90% date is March 6. The 10% date, the later one, is April 18. These are normals, not a forecast for this spring.
What USDA zone is Vancouver, WA?: The zone on this page is 8b, from ZIP 98661 in the 2023 PRISM table of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. That ZIP is 1.4 miles from the city point. USDA defines the zone as the average annual extreme minimum, shown here as 15°F to 20°F. It is a winter-cold band, not a frost date and not a forecast.
How far away is the weather station?: The station named on this page is 3.1 miles from the city point in a straight line. Frost dates are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for that instrument. They are not a National Weather Service forecast for one night, and they are not the temperature in every yard. The page names the station so the miles stay attached to the dates.

Check a crop against this station

Vancouver, WA

Zone 8bAverage annual extreme minimum 15°F to 20°F

Outside the median season Growing seasonTicks: 10%, 50%, and 90%

Washington. Nearest qualified station: VANCOUVER PEARSON AP, WA US (USW00094298), 3.1 miles. Median last 32°F March 29. Median first 32°F November 9. The 50% growing-season length is 223 days.

Open the ZIP page

32°F probabilities at this station

	10%	50%	90%
Last 32°F on or after	April 18	March 29	March 6
First 32°F on or before	October 22	November 9	November 30

Column order matches the NCEI file: for the last freeze, 10% is the later date and 90% is the earlier date. How to read the probabilities.

A wall calendar surrounded by vegetables, herbs, seed packets, and watering cans.

Planting calendar

Frost dates for Washington are above. Planting windows appear for states with a cited extension guide. The fall and seed tools use the numbers you enter and the station dates.

Date checks use your device’s calendar and appear after the page loads.